Sturridge still has it: Five things learned from Liverpool’s 2018 pre-season campaign

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Eight friendlies, six wins, one draw and one defeat. Jürgen Klopp would argue that the results don’t really matter, but there were plenty of talking points to take from Liverpool’s pre-season campaign.

The Reds started the summer with four friendlies against lower-league opposition, followed by a US tour that saw them play three games in this year’s International Champions Cup. Klopp’s favourite part of the summer schedule was the training camp in Evian, France. ‘Purely football’, as he put it.

Liverpool concluded their preparations on Tuesday night with a 3-1 win over Walter Mazzarri’s Torino.

Like all of Europe’s top clubs, Liverpool have had the challenging task of reintegrating some of their most important players at different times this summer. Jordan Henderson, Simon Mignolet and Dejan Lovren were the final trio to return at the end of last week, while new signings also needed bringing up to speed.

Here are five things we took from a pre-season campaign that many believe could have prepared the Reds for a serious title challenge in 2018/19.

1. Daniel Sturridge has definitely still got it

We’ve been here before. We’re ready to have our hearts broken all over again.

Many expected Sturridge to move on this summer after an underwhelming previous campaign that saw him spend the second half of the season on loan at West Brom. His well-documented injury record and Liverpool’s mouth-watering front three made this the ideal time for all parties to move in a different direction, right? Maybe not.

Six goals and two assists, a slightly deeper, more considered role in the Reds’ attack and a lot of flashbacks to the Sturridge of old  – the strikers pre-season has been a huge plus for Liverpool.

He made his intentions clear in an interview with Liverpoolfc.com in the US. “I love it here. I love the lads and the banter in the group is unbelievable. I feel at home again.”

Fitness permitting, Sturridge could be a huge asset for Liverpool this season.

2. The kids are alright

In terms of the youngsters in Liverpool’s squad, this summer was supposed to be about seeing whether the likes of Harry Wilson and Sheyi Ojo could play a part in Klopp’s first-team plans after Championship loan spells last summer.

Instead, the club have decided that another season in the Championship is the next best step for Wilson and Ojo is likely to depart in the coming days.

It was a trio of youngsters that may have been relatively unknown to a lot of Liverpool supporters that were the real winners this summer.

Defender Nathaniel Phillips, along with winger Rafa Camacho and exciting attacking midfield player Curtis Jones, have all proved they deserve to be a part of the current first-team squad.

Phillips is perhaps the name that has surprised fellow players, staff and fans the most. Injuries to Joel Matip, Ragnar Klavan and Joe Gomez at certain parts of pre-season, coupled with Lovren’s late return, has given Phillips a real chance to impress. Klopp couldn’t stop singing his praises after Liverpool’s victory over Torino.

Camacho and Jones were training with the first-team for most of the second half of last season. The former has shown a valuable versatility and genuine quality in his play. There are very high hopes for Jones, who Steven Gerrard built his U18 side around last season. All three are likely to be in and around the first-team set up this season.

3. Naby Keita can play… to say the least

Naby Keita’s arrival has gone under the radar this summer on account of the fact the Reds agreed the deal to sign him from RB Leipzig this time last year.

The 23-year-old Guinea international captain looks like the perfect Klopp midfield player. He’s got the lot, and the misconception that Keita is an N’Golo Kante type – a defensive midfield player – may earn Liverpool a lot of points in the early part of this season.

The prospect of Keita behind the Reds’ front three has fans very excited ahead of the start of the season. His dribbling ability is excellent, he can see a pass, he’s deceptively quick, very strong and not at all afraid to get stuck in.

It may be a while before Keita’s at his best, but that is to be expected of a player that is still young, still learning English and having to adapt to new surroundings. But don’t be surprised if Keita is one of Liverpool’s most important players this season and one of the league’s standout performers.

4. The front three look as hungry as ever

The disappointment of the end of last season would have taken its toll on many of Liverpool’s players, in particular, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino. Not just because of the Champions League final, but after World Cup campaigns that proved to be underwhelming for all three.

There have been several near misses for Liverpool since Klopp took over, he has been involved in three finals and not yet managed to win one of them, but there’s only so long that can be allowed to continue.

Mohamed Salah, in particular, will be desperate for some silverware. His World Cup disappointment didn’t just occur on the pitch. He was reportedly left angry by Egypt’s conduct and what was supposed to be a groundbreaking summer for Egyptian football became a bit of a mess.

Salah and Mané’s first action of pre-season came against Manchester City in New Jersey. Their introduction in the second half turned the game on its head and goals from both players saw the Reds’ come out as 2-1 winners.

They have both looked as sharp as ever since they’ve been back, as has Roberto Firmino, who bagged a goal and an assist against Torino on Tuesday. These guys are winners and they will know that it’s about time Liverpool started winning things.

5. Xherdan Shaqiri will fit right in

When it first became apparent that Xherdan Shaqiri was on Liverpool’s radar this summer, many were slightly underwhelmed.

Klopp was always expected to chase another quality attacking option to compliment Salah, Mané and Firmino this season. Borussia Dortmund’s £60m rated Christian Pulisic has been heavily linked for some time, while a deal to sign Nabil Fekir from Lyon collapsed after the medical.

But if fans were underwhelmed to start, they will now be licking their lips at the thought of the impact Shaqiri could have at Liverpool this season.

His debut saw him score a terrific overhead kick against arch-rivals Manchester United, and he also set up a goal for Daniel Sturridge. Shaqiri played a big part in two of Liverpool’s goals in their 5-0 thrashing of Napoli last Saturday and provided another fantastic assist for Sturridge at Anfield on Tuesday.

It should be remembered that Shaqiri has played for some big clubs. He’s still only 26 and, Liverpool’s recruitment department has demonstrated an eye for a good winger in recent seasons. Many were sceptical about the signings of Mané and Salah when they arrived and we all know how that turned out. Liverpool’s style of play will give him plenty of freedom to showcase his ability. He will also naturally benefit from playing alongside better players than he was at Stoke.

At £13m, this signing could be a very, very clever piece of business.

The post Sturridge still has it: Five things learned from Liverpool’s 2018 pre-season campaign appeared first on Squawka News.



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